Estonia–Taiwan relations are foreign relations between Estonia and Taiwan. Although the two countries do not have official diplomatic relations, they have engaged in cultural and economic exchanges. The Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia also represents Taiwanese interests in Estonia in the absence of formal diplomatic relations.
 | |
 Estonia |
 Taiwan |
|---|---|
History
edit%E4%BC%81%E6%A5%AD%E8%AB%AE%E8%A9%A2%E5%A7%94%E5%93%A1%E6%9C%83(ABAC)_%E3%80%8E%E6%95%B8%E4%BD%8D%E5%89%B5%E6%96%B0%E8%AB%96%E5%A3%87%E3%80%8F(DIF)%E3%80%8D%E8%B2%B4%E8%B3%93%E4%B8%80%E8%A1%8C%E3%80%8D_(41712125050).jpg)
On 2 November 2023, the cabinet of Estonia revised its approach to Taiwan to allow for the opening of a Taiwanese representative office in Estonia. Foreign minister Margus Tsahkna announced the policy and explained that it was meant to promote cultural and economic ties with Taiwan.[1] Tsahkna said in a statement that "Estonia is ready to accept the creation of Taipei’s non-diplomatic economic or cultural representations" in Tallinn, despite protests from China. Further, Tsahkna pushed for Taiwan's participation in international organizations.[2] In the same month, Taiwanese foreign minister Joseph Wu visited Estonia and gave a public speech.[3]
In March 2024, parliamentarian Kristo Enn Vaga led a Riigikogu delegation to Taiwan and was received by Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen. During the visit, Vaga said Estonian lawmakers were working to push for opening the Taiwanese representative office, and Tsai thanked the Estonia-Taiwan Friendship Group for their 4 consecutive years of support for Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health Organization.[3] In August 2024, Marko Mihkelson visited Taiwan along with other Baltic foreign affairs committee chairs.[4]
Mihkelson led the first-ever delegation from the Estonian parliamentary foreign affairs committee to Taiwan in November 2024. The delegation included deputy chairman of the committee, Henn Põlluaas. During a visit with President Lai Ching-te, Mihkelson expressed the sentiment that relations between the two countries had dramatically improved over the past few years and that he wished they could establish representative offices soon.[4]
Aid and development
editIn April 2020, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan donated 80,000 surgical masks to the Estonian Red Cross as part of its respirator diplomacy.[5]
Ukraine relief efforts
editIn May 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Taiwanese government donated US$1 million to the Estonia Refugee Council as part of a larger war relief and humanitarian assistance effort. In June 2024, the Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia signed an agreement with the Estonian Centre for International Development to support Estonia's efforts to build refugee shelters. As part of the agreement, Taiwan was donating an additional US$1.2 million.[6]
Working with Estonian companies, Taiwan donated 1.1 million medical masks to Ukrainian health care institutions as part of a joint relief effort. Kristo Enn Vaga led a delegation to Taiwan in February 2025 to receive the masks.[7]
Trade
editIn 2022, bilateral trade between Estonia and Taiwan totaled approximately $151.6 million, with Estonia exporting around $30.6 million in goods to Taiwan and importing roughly $121 million from Taiwan.[8][9]
Estonia's primary exports to Taiwan included broadcasting equipment ($10.6M), video displays ($2.7M), and titanium ($2.6M).[8] Conversely, Taiwan mainly exported integrated circuits ($15.3M), iron fasteners ($11.1M), and stainless steel ($9.6M) to Estonia.[9] In 2020, Estonia's service exports to Taiwan amounted to $2.63 million, with travel ($1.3M), transportation ($0.7M), and business services ($0.5M) being the highest-value sectors.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Tanner, Jari (3 November 2023). "Estonia will allow Taiwan to establish a nondiplomatic representative office in a policy revision". AP News. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ Askew, Joshua (10 November 2023). "Estonia ready to let Taiwan open Tallinn office, despite China warnings". Euronews. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Push being made for Taiwan office in Tallinn: Estonian lawmaker". Focus Taiwan. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ a b "President Lai meets delegation from Estonian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee". Presidential Office of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (Press release). 1 November 2024.
- ^ Tambur, Silver (21 April 2020). "Taiwan donates 80,000 masks to Estonia". Estonian World. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ Yang, Yao-ju; Yeh, Esme (21 June 2024). "Taiwan donating US$1.2m to Kyiv through Estonia". Taipei Times. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Vaga: Estonia donates 1.11 million medical masks to Ukraine in cooperation with Taiwan". Riigikogu (Press release). 5 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Estonia (EST) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ a b "Estonia (EST) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Chinese Taipei / Estonia". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2025-02-10.